Gas discharging device



Aug. 2l, 1934. P. voN FRANTzlUs 1,970,719

GAS DISCHARGING DEVICE Filed Nov. 9, 1931 Patented Aug. 2l, 1934 UNITED STATI-:s

PATE

NT OFFICE Hercules Gas-Munitions Corporation, Chicago,

Ill., a.l corporation of Illinois v Application November 9, 1931, Serial No. 573,777

s claims.k (CL i2-2) The present inventionrelates generally to devices for discharging an incapacitating fluid, such, for "example, as tear gas. Moreparticularly the invention relates .to that type of gas discharging device. which is designed primarily to be used as a weapon of 'defense' against criminals, and comprises a barrel for retaining a gas cartridge, a tubular stock in alignment with the barrel, a spring-pressed plunger which is slidably mounted in the stock and embodies a firing pin for engaging the percussion cap of the cartridge and a stud which is adapted to be used to retract the plunger against theforce of the spring and :extends through a longitudinally extending slot in the stock.

One object of the invention is to provide a .device of this type in which the barrel and stock and the other operating parts are. housed within a box-like casing which consists ci' a bottom section and a hinged top section, and is adapted to be placed upon a desk or counter and used as a paper weight or like article.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character in which the barrel for the gas cartridge is secured to and supported by the bottom section and discharges through an opening in one end of the casing, and the stock is connected to the top section in such a manner that when the top section is in its closed position, it is aligned with the barrel, and when the top section is in its opened position, it is located at one side of the barrel so that access to the latter may be readily `-had in order to insert or withdraw the gas cartridge.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas discharging device of the type and character under consideration which embodies a finger-operable lever for holding the plunger in its cocked position and for releasing the plunger, and in which the stud for retracting the kplunger against the force of the spring projects downwardly through a slotl in thebottom section of the casing and embodies a head at the extreme lower end which cooperates with the slot to hold the topA and bottom sections in connected relation when the plunger is in discharged position and to prevent closing of the top sectiony unless `the plunger isin` its cocked position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device for discharging gas-cartridges which is generally of new and improved construction, canr be manufactured at a low and lreasonable cost 'and is eiiicient in operation.

Other'objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of th'e present gas discharging device will be apparentlfroma consideration of the following detailed description to those who are skilled in the art.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter'set forth and are more particularly denedby the claims at the conclusion hereof. a

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification yor disclosure and in which like numeralsv of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several viewsV Figure 1 is a perspective of a gas discharging device embodying the'invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section illustrating in detail the manner in which the stock is connected to the top section so that it is aligned with the barrel when the top section is in its closed position; 1

Figure 3 is a horizontal section;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectiongsimilar to Figure 2, showing the spring-pressed plunger in the stock protracted to its cocked or ring position;

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line 5--5 of Figure 4; and y Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section 'on the line 6 6 of Figure 4.

The device which forms the subject matter of the invention consists of a cast metal, box-like casing '7 and is designed primarily to discharge a 'cartridge c containing a irritant, such as tear gas, and a propellant powder. The casing '7 consists of a bottom section 8 and a top section 9 and is so constructed that it may be used on a desk or counter as a paper weight or like article. 'I'he bottom section is rectangular in conformation and embodies in the bottom face thereof an L- shaped recess 10. The top section 9 is also rectangular in conformation and embodies a top wall 11, a pair of depending's'ides 12, a front 13 and a back 14. The front and back extend between and are formed integrally with the ends of the sides 12 and form with the latter and the top wall 11, a rectangular compartment 15. The top section 9 is disposed directly above the bottom section 8 and is connected to the latter by a pair of hinges 16 so that it may be swung into an open position at one side of the bottom section. The hinges 16 are located at the ends of the sides 12 and comprises hinge-members 17 which are formed integrally with and project upwardly from the Vbottom section 8, fit within recesses or sockets in the said side 12 and embody pivot pins 18. The top section 9 is secured in its closed position by means of a screw 19. The latter extends through a hole in the recess portion of the bottom section 8 and extends into an internally threaded socket in the top wall 11. Upon removal of the screw 19, the top section is free so that it may be swung to one side of the bottom section in order to provide access to the compartment 15. y

In addition to the casing '7,v the device comprises a barrel 20 and a stock 21. The barrelil extends longitudinally of the casing and is formed integrallywiththe bottom section 8,as shown in Figure 5 of the drawing. It is positioned in the compart ment when the top section 9 is in itsl closed position, and is arranged so as to discharge Y -the plunger 26 is opposed by a spring wire 45.

through a circular opening 22` in thefront 13. The gas cartridge c is adapted to'be inserted into and withdrawn from the Vbarrel when the top section of the casing is in its opened position.- A

pin 23 extends diametrically across the opening,

22 and serves as a stop for the wad which is usually held in the discharge lend of the cartridge c. The stock 21 is inthe form of a block of Vmetal and is secured against the bottom face oi the top wall 11 of the top section 9 by screws 24. It embodies a longitudinal bore and is positioned so that it is aligned with the barrel V20 when the cover is in its closed'position (seeFigures 2 and 4) The cartridge c is fired so as to effect a disn charge of the gas through the circular opening 22 by means of a plunger 26. This plunger is mounted slidably in the bore 25 in the Ystock and embodies at one end thereof a iiring pin 27 which is designed'to extend through an aperture 28 in a cross wall 29 at one end of the stock and to strike against the percussion cap of the cartridge A coil spring is interposed between the back 14 of the topsection 9 and therplunger 26 and serves to force the plunger towards the cartridge c. When the plunger 26 is retracted against the action of the spring and then released,l it is forced forwardly and causes the ring pin 27V to passk through the aperture 28 and strike against the percussion cap of thev cartridge. One end of the spring 30 is coniined in a socket 31 in the back 14. The other end of the spring is coniinediin acylindrical socket 32 in the other end of the plunger 26. The plunger 26 is retracted against the action of the spring 30 into its cocked or iiring position by means of a stud 33. This studis secured to and Yprojects downwardly from the front end of the plunger and extends through a longitudinal slot 34 in the stock and a longitudinal slot 35 in the recessed portion of the bottom section 8 of the casing. The extreme outer or distal end of the pin is provided with an enlarged head 36. VA oir--V cular opening 37 is formed at one end of the slot and permits the head to pass through the recess portion of the bottom section 8 ywhenethe top section is swung into its closed position. This opening is sopesitioned with respect to the slot 35 that .the cover section cannot be swung into its closed position unless the plunger is in its cocked or ring position'. hen theV plunger is in its Viiring position (see Figure 2), the stud 33 is disposed-in the slot 35 and the head 36 prevents opening of the top section of the casing.

The plunger 26 is retained in its cocked or ring position by means of a lever 38; This lever is located in Y a longitudinal' groove 39 .-inthe bottom face of the top wall 11 of the top section, and is centrally fulcrumed by means of aV pin 39a which is supported between the top wall 11 and the stock 21. A finger 40 is secured to and projects downwardly from one end of the lever 38. This iinger, as shown in. Figures 2 and 4,. extends `of the cartridge c.

Vin-a circular opening 44 in the top wall 11 of the top casing section so that it may be readily pressed downwardly for lever-actuating purposes. Withdrawal of the finger 40 from the notch 42 in The latter is secured against the top wall 11 by a screw 46 and is applied to the button 43 so that the lever 38is urged into a position wherein the ringer 40 is disposed within the notch 42. Accidental discharge of the device is prevented by means of a safety member 47. This member is disposed in the compartment 15 adjacent to the button 43 and is in the forni of a lever. It is centrally fulcrumed by means of a screw 48 and is arranged so that one end thereof extends through an opening 49 in one of the sidesof the top section of the casing. The other'end of the safety member is adapted normally to underlie the button 43 so as to prevent the latter from being depressed so as to release the finger 40 from the notchy in the plunger. When the safety member 47 is swung in one. direction, the end portion which normally underlies the button is swung away from the button and permits the latter to be depressed for cartridge firing purposes. A spring wire 50 is applied to the safety member so as to hold the latter in a position wherein the button is held against .downward displacement. In loading the device, the plunger 26 is first retracted against the force of the pin 30 into its cockedor iiring position, by manipulation of the stud 33 which projects downwardly through the slot 34 in the stock and the slot 35 in the recess portion of the bottom section of the casing. Thereafter, the screw 19 is withdrawn and the top section 9 is swung into its open position so as to expose thebarrel 20. The gas cartridge c is then inserted into the barrel, as shown in Figure 4. After the loading operation, the top section of the casing is swung downwardly and is locked in its closed position by means of the screw 19. VWhen it is desired to nre the device, the safetymember 4'7 is swung against the force of the spring wireA 50 so as to releaseY the button 43. The button is then pressedV downwardly so as to shift the lever 38 to withdraw the finger 40 from the notch 42 in the plunger. Upon withdrawal ofthe iinger from the notch. the spring 30 forces the plunger 26 towards the cross wall 29 of the stock and results in firing When the cartridge is red, the gas passes outwardly from. the compartment 15 through the circular opening 22 in ico its

its

iro

Whereas the device has been described as being primarily adapted for use in connection with the discharge of a gas cartridge, it is to be understood that other types of cartridges may be fired in the barrel. It is also to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims. without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a device for discharging a cartridge, the combination of a box-like casing consisting Of a bottom section and a top section separable from the bottom section and embodying a continuous depending compartment-forming wall with an opening therein, a barrel for the cartridge connected to the bottom section and positioned so as to discharge through the opening in the Wall when the sections are in their operative position, and manually operable firing means for the cartridge secured to the top section.

2. In a device for discharging a cartridge, the combination of a box-like casing having an opening in one end thereof and embodying a bottom section and a top section separable from the bottom section and forming therewith a compartment, a barrel for the cartridge disposed in the compartment so as to discharge through the aforesaid opening, a tubular stock connected to the top part for alignment with the barrel, a spring-actuated plunger mounted slidably in the stock and provided with a pin for firing the cartridge, means for holding the plunger in a cocked position, and means associated with the top section for manually releasing the holding means for cartridge discharging purposes.

3. In a device for discharging a cartridge, the combination of a box-like casing having an opening in one end thereof and embodying a bottom section and a top section separable from the bottom section and forming therewith a compartment, a barrel for the cartridge disposed in the compartment so as to discharge through the aforesaid opening, a tubular stock connected to the top part for alignment with the barrel, a spring-actuated plunger mounted slidably in the stock and provided with a pin for firing the cartridge, means for holding the plunger in a cocked position, and means associated with the top section for releasing the holding means for cartridge discharging purposes comprising a lever and a finger button at one end of the lever extending through the top section and operable from outside the top section.

4. In a device for dischargingA a cartridge, the combination of a box-like casing consisting of a bottom section and a top section separable from the bottom section and embodying a continuous depending compartment-forming wall with an opening therein, a barrel for the cartridge positioned in the compartment within the Wall so that it discharges through the aforesaid opening, a tubular stock connected to the top section in alignment with the barrel, a plunger mounted slidably in the stock and provided with a pin for firing the cartridge, and a spring for actuating the plunger for cartridge firing purposes extending between the plunger and the wall and having the ends thereof abutting directly and respectively against said plunger and wall.

5. In a device for discharging a cartridge, the combination of a box-like casing having an opening therein and comprising a pair of separable complemental sections shaped to form a compartment therebetween, a barrel for the cartridge disposed in the compartment and positioned so as to discharge through the opening, a tubular stock secured to one of the sections so that it is aligned with the barrel, a springpressed plunger mounted slidably in the stock and provided with a pin for ring the cartridge, and a stud for shifting the plunger into a ring position extending through a slot in the other section.

6. In a device for discharging a cartridge, the combination of a box-like casing having Aan opening therein and comprising a pair of separable, complemental sections shaped to form a compartment therebetween, a barrel for the cartridge disposed in the compartment and positioned so as to discharge through the opening, a tubular stock secured to one of the sections so that it is aligned with the barrel, a springpressed plunger mounted slidably in the stock and provided with a pin for ring the cartridge, and a stud for shifting the plunger into a firing position extending through a slot in the other section and provided with a head whereby the two sections are held in connected relation when the plunger is in its inoperative or fired position.

7. In a device for discharging a cartridge, the combination of a box-like casing consisting of a bottom section and a top section separable from the bottom section and embodying a continuous depending compartment-forming wall with an opening therein, a barrel for the cartridge connected to the bottom member and positioned so that when the sections are in their operative position it is disposed in the compartment within the Wall and discharges through the aforesaid opening, a tubular stock connected to the top section in alignment with one end of the barrel, a spring-actuated plunger mounted slidably in the stock and provided with a pin for ring the cartridge, releasable means associated with the top section for holding the plunger in a cocked position, and a stud for shifting the plunger into its cocked position, connected to the plunger and extending through a slot in the bottom section.

8. In a device of the character described for discharging a cartridge, the combination of a box-like casing having an opening therein and consisting of a pair of separable, complementary sections shaped to form a compartment therebetween, a barrel for the cartridge disposed in the compartment and positioned so that it discharges through the opening when the two sections are in their operative position, a stock alsoY disposed in the compartment and arranged in alignment with one end of the barrel, a spring pressed plunger mounted in one end of the stock and provided with a ring pin for the cartridge, releasable means for holding the plunger in a cocked position, and means whereby the two sections of the casing cannot be placed together into their operative position until the plunger is shifted into its cocked position wherein it is held by the aforesaid means.

PETER voN FRANTZIUS. 

